Llais Llafur

SOGLE MEN FIRST. The Government's decision that single men are to be "fetched" does not gilve ground for surprise. Four times Mr. Asquith lias repeated a public pledge to that effect, and there is no with- drawing from it. Relying on that pledge many, many thousands of married men attested under Lord Derby's scheme, and any suggestion that the pledge should be paltered with is rank treason to them. But there is another aspect. We have to defeat Germany, and that we shall do if many -other liberties, far- more vital to British institutions than the voluntary ■ system, have to go into the melting pot. In order to achieve victory over the Central Empires we "hare to keep up a steady supply of men, for years if -necessary. Compulsion of single •slackers—of whom there are some in the Swansea Valley—will give us -enough men for ten weeks, the Derby scheme will give us all the men we aioecl for a further six months or more. After that, what? We think the Government would have done better to have introduced a thoroughgoing scheme of conscription as soon as it was realised that the Russian armies would be indefinitely out of action. Piecemeal conscription is not of much nse. But in any case neither the Lab- our Party nor the trade unions will -oppose the compulsion of single laggards. There are a few noisy in- dividuals, mostly of the middle-class, numbers of Mr Clifford Allen's Won't Fight Gang, who may put up a feeb!? resistance, but the great, ublk of the Working classes realise tha.t compulsion is only one of the disagreeable things that we have to suffer as the price of beating Germany. Rather than fail in the tqsk to which the nation has set its hand they will accept measures ten times more distasteful than the com- pulsion of a, small section of the nation which shows itself unworthy of the privileges of British ctizenship.

r'trr?'JntU BrLl ;-i (; 'f 8 f5 TO US INTRODUCED NEXT WEEK. A I .o'uby ccxiTesponelent states:- I am in a. position to state that the Bill to give legal effect bo Lord Derby's recruiting scheme is already in existence and will be introduced in Parliament next week. wiii carry out the resolution air- rived at at Wednesday's Cabinet endors- ing the pledge given by the Premier that jsingle n, ii of m'litary age shall be called up for service before the married men's clat,-u< are called, and it will transform a moral into a legal obli- gation. to use Mr. Asquith'a words. A SHOnT BILL. Tha is a short one, and provides, it is l'(: :tc'('od, for the compulsory en- listment uf &11 men of military age, with provisions giving poweT to exclude men engaged in nserved occupations, and giv- ing power also to tribunals to grant ex- emptions from service where good cases are made out a,Dd sufficient causes shown. There will also be power to appeal Against the decisions of tribunaJs. The Bill in its present form, I am told, deals with both single and married men of military age. but the latter will not be called up until the single men's classes are exhausted. There will, in fact, be very little from Lord Derby's scheme, -except tha.t there will he compulsory in- stead of voluntary enrolment. This is the esential principle of the JBill, though its wording may be changed before it is finally presented to Parlia- ment. THE TALK OF RESIGNATIONS. Meanwhile there is less talk of resigna- tions of Ministers to-day, and some even go so far as to say there will be none. How they come to that conclusion is hard to tell. Anti-conscriptionista aver that Mr. Mo- Kenna, Mr. Runciman, and Sir John Simon, with others, will leave the Cabi- net. Time only will show. 1

CWMTWRCH NOTES. A pretty wedding was solemnized at Poiitardawe Registry Office on Thursday, the contracting parties being Mr. Daniel "Morgan, of George IV. Inn, Upper Cwm- twrch, and Miss Edith Thomas, the third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Thomas, grocer, Lower Cwmtwrch. The bride, wiio was daintily attired, was given away by her brother, M. Herbert Lewis Thomas, whilst Miss Elsie Jeffreys (the bride's niece) attended as bridesmaid. After the ceremony a reception was held at the bride's home, Maerdy House, where breakfast was partaken of. The party af- terwards motored to Neath, en route for Cardiff, where the honeymoon is being spent. Both bride and bridegroom are very popular in the locality, and were the recipients of many valuable presents and good wishes of a lio-st of friends. The bridegroom is at present employed in an aeroplane designing factory near Leeds, doing Government work. We wish thtua all good luck for a happy future. A shocking fatality occurred at the Brynhenllys Colliery, Upper Cwmtwrch, oil Tuesday afternoon, which resulted in tile death of Mr. Daniel J no. Thomas turner), residing at Tainewydd, Lower Cwmtwrch. Deceased, who had just com- pleted his day's work, was struck down by a journey of trams, death being in- stantaneous. lie was an -)Id- aiia highly respected inhabitant of Cwmtwrch, and took a keen interest in music, and was a faithful and energetic member of Beulah Chapel, where he will be greatly missed. lie leaves a widow and a number of grown-up children, one z son, who is with the colours. Deep sympathy is felt with the relatives in their attiictioii. An iiu Licst will be heid. A very successful cymanfa gallu was held at Beulah Chapel, Cwmtwrch on Anns Day, when the united churches, Beulah, Bethania, and Bethel spent the day in song. The conductor was Mr. E. T. Davies, of Merthyr, who in the course of hs remarks expressed himself as high- ly pleased with the singing. To him it was an excellent idea. to hold a cymanfa ganti on Xmas day; he had cond ucted many singing festivals before, but this was the first occasion he had had the pleasure of taking part on the sacred day of Xmas. He. trusted that Cwmtwrch had given the lead to other localities in this respect. The morning proceedings were given up entirely to children, over which Mr. W. G. Walters presided, and the hymns selected were sweetly ren- dered by the little ones. At the afternoon service Mr. Wm. Owen, H.M.I, of Mines, was president,, whilst the Rev. W. H. Hughes (pastor of Beulah), was the even- ing president. As stated, the singing was of a high order, and the edifice was crowded on each occasion. The committee are to be congratulated on the class of hymns selected, and also for initiating such an edifying manner of celebrating -Xmas Day. I The funera] took place at Beulah Ceme- t tery on Thursday afternoon of the 12- months-old child of Mr. and Mrs. loan Davies, Cwmtwrch, the Rev. W. T. Hughes officiating. Much sympathy is felt with the parents in their sad bereave- j ment. | We are pleased to report the further j success of Mr. G. T. Levi I'Gweledydtl') ho well-known Cwmtwrch poet, at the Xmas Eisteadfodau. In tlie englyn oom- petition at Pantteg Eisteddfod, Ystaly- j fera, he captured the prize for the best stanza Oil the subject "Llyfr" (Book), out of 11 competitors. The following is "GweUxlyddV prize-winner |— j Llyfr. j Dyma ddeiliad meddyliau :-r-dor yw Llyfr I dir Hen yr oesa.u; A gwelir y gwir a'r gau Yn glir o fewn ei gloriau. At the Bodringallt Xmas Day Eistedd- fod "Gweledydd" was also successful in capturing ha-if the prize for a hero-poem. to "General Botha. His co-winner was Mr. W. Davies, "Moelfrvn, Blaenciy- dach. The competitors were numerous.

Welsh Mannel and Wool Stores LONGTON" HOUSE. I Herbert St., Poitardawe- STOCKINGS RE-FOOTED ON THE SHORTEST NOTICE. lOd. PER PAIR. POST FREE. Send for patterns and ririce lists for all kinds of Wool and Flannel. Note Address— J. W. MORGAN, I Pontardawe & SeTen Sisters

OUR LONDON LETTER. I LABOUR PARTY AND COM- I PULSION. Until the Cabinet's decision is definitely known, and until the figures of Lord Derby's scheme are published and analysed, the Labour Party is not likely to make any definite statement on the compulsion of single men. In I a sense, of course, they are committed to compulsion, for t'hey helped in the Derby scheme, the most important part of which was the promise to married men that they would not be called on to serve until practica.lly all eligible single men have been enlisted, volun- J tarily, or compulsorily. I gather that there are divided opnions among the Labour M.P.'s, some of whom, like Mr J. H. Thomas, are strongly apposed to conscription, while others again are prepared to accept on the recommenda- tion of the Cabinet. MR HENDERSON'S POSITION. I What will be the position of Mr Arthur Henderson, M.P., the Pres i- dent of the Board of Education, and of Mr William Brace and Mr George Roberts, if the Labour Party decides to break with the Government on the I conscription issue ? They hold their offices, not a. individuals, but as re- presentatives of the Labour Party, and. if it is deemed advisable, they may be called up by the party to resign from I the Government. This is hardly likelv however. The Labour Party will not knowingly run its head into a brick wall. Four or five months ago it was fairly obvious that an anti-oonscription movement had good chances of success. Now the prospects are changed, for over two million married men, nearly all voters, have a vested interest in seeing that unmarried men are called up before they are. The doctrinaire opponents of conscription may not realise this, but it is a fact neverthe- less. A BELGIAN SCHOOLBOY. I A correspondent sends to the "Spectator" an essay written by a Belgian schoolboy of fiftoon in which he gives his impressions of English school life. "I like the British schoolboys for some things," ho says, "and for other things I don't like them very much. By example, certain boys who have any power on the others use it too largely and have a pleasure to punish them. At the other hand, they are very kind to you, when you ask them something. But one thing that failed them, is the work: they'don't work very much; their principal doings at college are to work and the games: the most of them like more the games than the work. In preparation I've had the proof, very often (l don't say that all the hoys are doing that-but many of them): they sneak amongst them, read sometimes, and turn the head for a small noise; I don't blame them, for I do that myself, being accustomed to the English fashion." LONDON "SPECIALS." I The Chief Constable of Lancashire has released a number of special con- stables from duty in view of the quiet state of the county. "Specials" are asking whether the same cannot be done in London. The official answer is in the negative. This is not because there is any increase of crime or dis- orderly conduct, but because the special constabulary force, which some months ago stood at 30,000, has been, as shown in the last return, reduced to slightly below 30,000. Notwithstand- ing this reduction, caused almost en- tirely by enlistment, there is no call for recruits, and as a matter of fact for some months past every applicant to serve has either to produce a cer- tifieate of rejection on the ground of unfitness signed by a military doctor or papers proving that he is over mili- tarv a.ge. Much extra work has been thrown on the "specials" by the de- pletion of the Metropolitan police force through enl'stment. CANADIAN UNIVERSITY BATTAL- ION. Steps are being taken to enlist a University Battalion in Western Canada The Officer Commanding the Winnipeg O. T.C. has notified the students at the University of Manitoba that it is proposed to commence organ- ising units for active service at once, as well as continuing the training of potential officers. Being rather smaller, than the Eastern Universities, it is in- tended to band together the Western seats of learning in order to obtain the requisite number for the proposed new battalion which, it is hoped, will be mobilised next spring. Efforts are to be made to organise a full infantry j battalion and an army medical unit from the Universities in Western Canada. LABOUR LEADER'S POEM. I Few would suspect the Labour move- ment of harbouring a poet, but it is so. I have juat received a poem of seven verses, written by Alderman Ben Turner, of Batley. It is a new year greeting from Britain to her soldiers, and if the verses are not quite accord- ing to rule the sentiments are unim- peachable. I give one verse:— Their protecting power has saved us— soldier, sailor, doctor, nurse— From a fate akin to Belgium or maybe ane ten times worse. Shall we then neglect our duty and forget them in their pain, Or o'erlook the homes they went from in our usual rush for gain. How many of your readers after pur- I using this verse will be inclined to say that Ben Turner and Ben Jonson are not in the same boat ? AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION. I Valuable and suggesti ve information is contained in the bulletin for 1914 issued from the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics. The popu- lation of the Commonwealth at the end of 1914 was 4,940,952, with an excess of 161,910 males over females. In South Australia the females predomina- ted, there being 221,140, as against 220,550 males. The total population of South Australia was 441,690, of Vic- toria 1,430,667, and of New South Wales 1,861,522. For the year the births in the Commonwealth numbered 137,983. 70,604 being male children. and 67,379 females. There were 43,311 marriages, and 57,720 deaths. CHILDREN'S LECTURES. I Fifty years ago Faraday inaugurated a course of lectures for juveniles which has given pleasure during every last week of the year to countless children since. The lecturer this year at the Royal Institution is Professor Turner, the Oxford astronomer, who did mar- vellous things with sound waves, in- cluding the bringing up into' the theatre of the music of a musical-box that was playing down in the cellars. Professor Turner incidentally proved himself a coiner of phrases that strike the youthful imagination. He re- marked that "if the air were taken out of us we should all go squash flat, and if the air were taken from round us we should swell up and burst." And he supplied this admirable schoolboy mnemonic: "Sound travels at 1,000 feet a second—say, three cheers for the three noughts. Light travels at 1,000,000,000 feet a second-say, 'three times three." MARGARINE SALES. I Long before the war the poor had grown accustomed to the taste of mar- garine, and now the middle classes are following them in the use of that excel- lent and satisfactory substitute for butter The present price of fairly good butter in London is Is. 6d. a lb., and it would be far higher but for the competition of margarine. According to one expert, the sales of margarine have doubled within the last year. The absurd prejudices against it are vanishing. TheTe is scarcely any difference in taste, and very little in nutrition value, between good margarine and the best butter. Mar garine is made mainly from vegetable oils and milk. ELECTRIC VEHICLES. .1 1 une etiect ot tne snortage ot petrol is the increase of the number of motors and delivery vans which take their energy from electrical storage batteries carried on board. The majority of these vehicles are fitted with the Edison battery, in which iron and nickel take the place of lead, and for which enormous durability is claimed. One of the biggest users of electric vehicles in London is Harrod's Stores, which employs over 60 delivery vans driven from storage batteries. Machines of the sort are coming much in favour for street cleansing and watering. The experience of Blackpool, for example, is that one electrically driven street sprinkling machine does the work of six horse-drawn watering vans. Where there is a cheap and abundant electricity supply, with adequate arrangements for charging the batteries, the electric vehicles presents great advantages. THE LABOUR YEAR BOOK. I have received a copy @f The Labour Year-Book for 1916, a, bulky and impres- sive volume for the publication of which the Labour Party, the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress, and the Fabian Research Department are greatly responsible. It is sold in two editions, price Is. net. and 2s. 6d. net. respectively. Mr. Shaw contributes a characteristic article, inviting all pur- chasers of the book to bombard the publi- cation committee with statements as to the faults of the work and suggetions for its improvement. Special articles are contributed bv Mr Arthur Henderson M.P., Mr. Philip Snowden, Mr. Vander- velde, and Mr. Sidney Webb. Special attention is given to the section on Labour and the war, which deals with the organisation of Labour in relation to the munition industry, Labour and re- cruiting, the relief of distress, and wo- men and the war. Valuable information is given with respect to mines, the Com- pensation Acts, Local Government, etc. The book generally meets the needs of checkweighers, lodge officials, members of local bodies, I.L.P.-eers, and all mem- bers of the Labour movement who aspire to be well-informed. THE NEW YEAR HONOURS. I hear that the New Year Honours list is likely to be exceptionally long, and thai the recipients of Royal favour on this occasion are to be almost exclusively naval and military men. If rumour be cerrect very few civilians will be included in the list, conferments upon any but representatives ef the services being for the most part reserved for the King's Birthday Honours, in June. (Continued at bottom of next column)

JTOWEN SPECIAL THIS WEEK. 250 Children's Trimmed Hats, Is. lid. 25 Pieces Crash Towelling, 4id. per yard. 300 Cotton Blankets, 18.0d., ls.6fd., 4 The Cash Draper, YSTALYFERA.

I nTAlYFEHA NOTES. I Pantteg Vestry was crowded on Wed- nesday night at the meeting of the Young People's Society. An excellent program | had been prepared, the chief items b6ilIg two sketches. The first entitled "BIe ma fa?" was very successfully performed by the family of Mr. Dd. Jones, of Peny- wern-road. MT. and Mrs. Jones, who took the chief parts, were assisted by Mr. Giraldus Jones and Miss May Jones and Miss Mary A. Hopkin. The second sketch, entitled "The Miners' Strike," was composed by Mr. Dd. Jones. The scene was laid in a barber's shop, and the various characters expressed their opin- ions of the recent colliers' strike. Those who took part were Messrs. D. G. Mor- gan (of the Welsh National Dramatic Co) D. Goo. Williams, Wm. Howells, D. M. Roes, D. S. Williams, Wm J. Brazell, Wm. George, and Maldwin Jones. So many people failed to obtain admittance to the vestry on Wednesday that a re- peat performance of the sketches is to be given on Friday night, so that all may have a chance of enjoying the treat. The Xmas Day Eisteddfod at Pantteg Chapel was a great success. The after- noon was entirely devoted to the children, whose competitions were in most cases very well rendered, and in the evening the elders took part with marked success. A most enjoyable Xmas Day was spent. We congratulate the Godre'rgraig United Choir on their success at the Morriston Eisteddfod on Monday. It was no small achievement to come out second of the seven choirs who competed in the test piece, especially as several of them had won on the same piece on previous occasions. Mr. Jenkin Rees, the conductor, is to be complimented on the success of his choir. The storm on Monday did a good deal of minor damage locally. Slates were blown about and troughing carried away from many buildings. Sheds were ren- dered useless, and in some cases trees were up-rooted. It is fortunate that no serious accidcn ts. occurred Private Tom Laing (formerly assist- ant to Councillor H. J. Powell) has reached the front. He landed in France on Christmas Eve after a very stormy passage. We wish him well, and a safe retarn. An excellent musical lecture on Alawon- gwenn a Chann Penillion, accompanied by the harp, was delievered at Jeru- salem Chapel on Xmaa night by Mr. W. 0. Jones (Eos y Gogledd). The chair was occupied by the Rev. D. W. Stephen in the unavoidable absence of Dr. Owen. The Shops Act inquiry will take place at the Council Chamber, Pontardawe, on Thursday, the 27th. January, at 3 p.m. Great interest is being evinced in this matter by the shop keepers in Pontar- dawe especially, and undoubtedly, there will be some straight talking by the var- ious advocates. On Thursday evening the scholars of St. David's Church Sunday School had their annual Christmas prize distribution and social in the church hall. A large number of children and friends were pre- sent, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. On Christmas Day, the death oc- curred at the age of 76, of Mrs. Catherine Jones, mother of Mr Arthur D. Jones, for some time assistant to Mr J. M. Roberts, chemist. In accord- ance with the deceased lady's wish, her remains were on Tuesday conveyed for interment to Bangor, where Mrs. Jones had resided for many years, and where she was held in very high esteem by a large circle of friends. The Gurnos Young People's Mutual Improvement Society will hold their fortnightly meeting in the Church Hall on Friday evening this week. A laugh- able sketch is one of the items pre-

0 .G).<.3. & WAT [S JONES' I x ? tWMWaiTt r)c o JUnM ?  Winter SALE I 4 9 $ COMMENCES £  ? On Friday, f uia ? <? 6 <? ❖ m% g ..? ? #X | SEE WINDOWS. I SEE WINDOWS. ? e ————— ❖ <? I 257, Oxford St*l i ? ? Q I Swansea. |  +. 8 0 ♦>

BEN TILLETT IN THE TRENCHES. Mr. Ben Tillett, general secretary of the Dockers' Union, is again with the British troops in France. This is his second visit to the trenches. —————

The New Year will have to be "brought I in" with teetotal drinks in the chief res- taurants snd hotels, as the authorities have declined to grant an extension of the drink licence from 9.30 p.m in con- nection with the usual festivities in Lon- don.

——————————— BRADFORD and MANCHESTER I WAREHOUSE COMPANY, 12 GOWER STREET SWANSEA (Opposite Mount Pleasant Chapel) The Bargain Warehouse of South Wales. GOOD SELECTION OF SERGES FROM ls.9d. to 7s.9d per yd. TAILORS AND DRESSMAKERS, LININGS AND TRIMMINGS A SPECIALITY AT WHOLESALE PRICES. NAVY SERGE SUITABLE FOR BOYS' SUITS OR ANYTHING FOR HARD WEAR, 54in. WIDE, 2a.9d. per yard. ORDERS BY POST RECEIVE SPECIAL AND PROMPT. ATTENTION. Prepaid Rates for the following Classes of Adver&semeirts. WANTED, TO LET, TO SELL, PER- SONAL, SALES, SITUATIONS VACANT, etc. No. of 0" Three Words. Insertions. 20 6d Is 30 9d Is 6d 40 la 2s WANTED.-By owapnning of the New Year, Furnishea Apartments for Your,, MarTiod Couple rv-ith one child. -liaplies to N., "Llais," Ystalyfera. BARGAIN, 2-1 2 h.p. Sun Villiera Motor Cycle. Only done few trial runs; or Exchange for Piano. Buying Car.—"Motor," Llais Llafur. 1.n K NITTING AIACHINES.-Round or Flat, only Best Makes kept; good Home Work for either sev. Lady Tutors in most chief centres in South Wales. Lists free. You can rely on Best Value, over 43 years in the trade. Call or write. SEWING MACHINES.— Sav#, and boycott I the Hire. IN a agents, no shop expenses, no middlemen, no second-hand sold as j new. Good reputation. Only Welah House send machinea to Chili and Canada. Est. 1-871. Chief Welsh Depot.—W. Griffiths, 30, Queen-street, Neath. 13023- MAGNIFICENT 1915 WHITE WYAN- DOTTE COCKERELS, bred direct from tho winning Pen of Mr. Abel Latham's in the open section of the Northern Utility P. S. 's 12 months' Laying Contest. 1913-1914. 7s.6d., 10s.6d., 15s. Also strong vigorous S.C. R. I. Red' Cockerels 1915. Splendid laying strain. 7s.6d., 10s.6d. W. MORGAN, Glan-rhyd road, Ystradffynliais^ 3Dcl8-25Jl The Gough Estate Rent Audit. Mr Fleming Gough 's half-yearly rent- audit will take place as follows:— BRECONSHIRE AUDIT: ON TUESDAY, JAN. 4th, 1916, at. the Ynisoedwyn Arms, Ystradgynlais, from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. GLAMORGANSHIRE AUDIT: ON THURSDAY, JAN. 6th, 1916, at the Ohurch Hall, Ystalyfera, from Ifr a.m. till 5 p.m. J. P. LEE, Agent. 2Dc2oJl RHIWFAWR. EISTEDDFOD DYDD SADWRN, CHWEFROR Igag, 1916. BEIRINIAID— Y Gerddoriaeth: Gwilym R Jones, Ysw Ammanford; a T. J. Rees, Ysw., Ammanford. Canu Penillion: Rd. Morgan, Ysw., Rrynamman yr Adroddiada-u D. Clydach Thomas, Ysw., Clydach, a W. J. Davies (Tawelog), Rhiwfawr. COR CYMYSG ddim dan 20, "Y Gwlithyn" (Alaw Ddu), gwobr E3. UNAWDAU, 10s.6d.; UNAWD AGORED, 21s.; UNAWDAU PLANT, 5s.; CANU GYDA'R DELYN, 10s.6c. ADRODDIAD AGORED, 21.. ADRODDIAD PLANT, 5s., etc. Manvlion pellach oddiwrth yr Yag.: ABRAHAM REPS, Rhiwfawr. Swansea Valley. 4Dc25Jl' WINNING NUMBERS Of the Ystradgynlais Drawing in aid of the crippled child John Alexander. All claims to be in the hands of the secre- tary within fourteen days. 1st 142; 2nd 2084; 3rd 1325; 4th 679; 5th 2841; 6th 605; 7th 606; 8th 1377; 9th 2302; 10th 2380; 11th 753; 12th 1248; 13th 2294; 14th 2316 15th 402; 16th 1784; 17th 1512; 18th 877; 19th 461; 20th 2114; 21st 2241; 22nd 2351. Secretary-W. T. Hurnphxeys Dol-v- Coed, Ystradgynlais. ijj

(Continuing from preceding column). THE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS. Doctors are very poor trade unionists. There is a tuberculosis dispensary at Brixton, and a chief officer has been advertised for at JB7 a week. The doctors' trad e union says the job is worth E10 a week, and forbids any of its members to work for less. The result is that the job is still vacant. There is every in- dication that for a long ti'me after the war the medical profession wtill be more highly paid than ever. Ten thou- sand medioal men are now serving with the Forces. Fewer new doctors are qualifying, and the shortage will be the more marked if the war is prolonged. So that it looks as though there will be more vacant medical jobs than doctors after peace comes. SECRETARY OF THE PEACE SOCIETY. I Dr. Evans Darley resigns the post of secretary of the Peace Society, and his successor takes up duty to-day. Dr. Darley, who is a Welshman, has held the post forsome twenty-seven years. The Rev Herbert Dunnico, the new secretary, comes from Liverpool, where he was minister of a flourishing Baptist Church. A member of the I.L.P., he is well-known on Labour platforms, and has proved, I believe, an acceptable speaker in your neighbourhood. pared, an dmuch enjoyment is antici- pated. At the Coliseum during the holidays crowded houses were the rule. On Christmas night, the chief attraction being a 3-part photo play called "The Bottle, with Albert Chevalier in the chief part. Every one who saw this picture is satisfied that if pictures of a high clasa are shown anywhere in Ystalyfera, it is at the Coliseum. On Boxing Day also an exceedingly onjoyable 3-part picture was screened. It is called "11.59 a.m." Rather a. peculiar title, but to all who saw the picture, quite appropriate. A young goldminer having to race for the security of his mine against unscrupul- ous opponents1 but which he succeeds in securing just one minute before 12 o'clock noon, at which time his option expired. This Thursday, Friday and Saturday another great picture in five parts is being shown, entitled "Mignon—a Child of Nature." One of the most romantic stories ever filmed, and one that is sure to please the picture-going people. Also will be shown a fine film of the present war called, "The French Navy at W<vr." On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next, another great picture will be shown. That popular detective, Sexton Blake being due, in that famous drama entitled, "The Great Cheque Fraud"- one of the very latest pictures in which he appears. ST. DAVID'S HALL EISTEDDFOD. We are requested to draw attention to the eisteddfod to be held at St. David's Hall on Saturday, the arrangements for which are well in hand. Judging by the large number of entries for the long list of substantial prizes, there will be keen competition, which should serve to make the function one of exceptional in- terest. --1